Dyson Daniels, who led the NBA in steals whereas making dramatic enhancements in scoring, rebounds and assists for Atlanta, was named the league’s most improved participant Wednesday.
Daniels beat out fellow finalists Ivica Zubac of the Los Angeles Clippers and Cade Cunningham of Detroit.
The 22-year-old Daniels emerged as a productive starter at taking pictures guard for the Hawks after arriving in Atlanta within the commerce that despatched high-scoring guard Dejounte Murray to New Orleans on July 6.
Earlier than the commerce, Daniels was finest recognized for his defensive play. Accidents and different trades helped clear the best way for the six-foot-seven Daniels to flourish as a scoring complement to Trae Younger whereas offering spectacular all-around manufacturing.
Daniels now’s entrenched as an essential basis participant for the Hawks, becoming a member of Younger, ahead Jalen Johnson and 2024 No. 1 general NBA draft decide Zaccharie Risacher, who was the runner-up in Tuesday’s rookie of the 12 months award gained by San Antonio’s Stephon Citadel.
Daniels led the NBA with 229 steals, essentially the most since Seattle’s Gary Payton had 231 within the 1995-96 season. He completed because the runner-up to Cleveland’s Evan Mobley within the voting for NBA defensive participant of the 12 months.
Daniels’ nickname — Nice Barrier Thief — is a nod to his roots in Australia and defensive prowess.
Daniels’ spectacular positive aspects as a scorer, defender, rebounder and play-maker helped him declare the highest spot within the voting for many improved participant. Due to his position as a starter beside Younger in Atlanta’s backcourt, Daniels improved his scoring from 5.8 factors per recreation with New Orleans in 2023-24 to 14.1, his rebounds from 3.9 to five.9, his steals from 1.4 to three.0 and his assists from 2.7 to 4.4.
Daniels grew to become solely the fifth participant since 1973-74 to common at the least 14.0 factors, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and three.0 steals, becoming a member of Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Michael Ray Richardson and Alvin Robertson.
Hawks coach Quin Snyder lobbied for Daniels to be acknowledged because the league’s prime defensive participant but in addition took word of the younger guard’s general positive aspects.
“I believe his means to be as efficient as he’s on the ball, you see that and really feel that,” Snyder mentioned. “I believe additionally his means to drive the ball. So to me, these two issues are his aggressiveness. And to be able to be aggressive, you need to be fearless. So I believe perhaps the most important factor that I needed to attempt to talk to Dyson to the extent we will instill one thing in somebody is don’t be afraid to make a mistake.”
Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers praised Daniels’ impression as greater than a defensive specialist earlier than a late-season recreation in Atlanta.
“I believe it’s so refreshing to see a younger man come to the league with that make-up,” Rivers mentioned of Daniels. “Oh, he desires to attain. He’s studying. He’s engaged on his recreation. However he’s making an impression now. His measurement is what differentiates him from everybody else, although. He’s huge, like huge, tall, robust, lengthy arms. And he’s powerful.”
The Hawks obtained Daniels, forward-center Larry Nance Jr., heart Cody Zeller, a 2025 first-round decide and a conditional 2027 first-rounder within the deal for Murray.
Daniels’ quick impression and the draft picks made the deal successful for Atlanta. The commerce wasn’t sufficient to save lots of basic supervisor Landry Fields, who was fired on April 21. The Hawks completed 40-42 and had been 0-2 within the play-in match to overlook the playoffs.
Essentially the most improved participant award, like a number of different NBA honors, was voted on by a world panel of 100 writers and broadcasters who cowl the league and solid ballots shortly after the top of the common season.
The opposite awards that had been a part of that voting course of and have already had their outcomes unveiled: San Antonio’s Stephon Citadel profitable rookie of the 12 months, Cleveland’s Evan Mobley profitable defensive participant of the 12 months, New York’s Jalen Brunson profitable clutch participant of the 12 months and Boston’s Payton Pritchard profitable sixth man of the 12 months.
Different awards introduced by the league because the finish of the common season: Golden State’s Stephen Curry gained the Twyman-Stokes teammate of the 12 months award and Warriors teammate Draymond Inexperienced gained the hustle award.
Awards that will probably be introduced later within the playoffs embody MVP (both Oklahoma Metropolis’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver’s Nikola Jokic or Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo), coach of the 12 months (both Detroit’s J.B. Bickerstaff, Cleveland’s Kenny Atkinson or Houston’s Ime Udoka), plus the All-NBA, All-Rookie and All-Defensive groups.
